relation between serum neopterin levels and insulin resistance in obese subjects

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 50 subjects, 30 obese healthy subjects with body mass index [BMI] of 31.897 +/- 2.806 Kg/m2 and 20 normal weight healthy subjects with BMI of 21.649 +/- 1.307 Kg/m2 served as a control group. Serum neopterin, fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose levels and homeostatic model assessment [HOMA] score were determined for all subjects. Compared with the control group, obese subjects had significantly higher fasting insulin concentration, fasting blood glucose levels, HOMA scores and serum neopterin levels. In obese subjects, serum neopterin levels had a significant positive correlation to BMI, fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose and to HOMA scores. In the control group, serum neopterin levels also had a significant positive correlation to BMI and HOMA scores. Z score showed that serum neopterin level was the most sensitive parameter that reflected the actual changes in obese subjects, followed by fasting insulin, then HOMA score and lastly fasting blood glucose